House Speaker and Graft Suspect Setya Novanto Skips Questioning

9:30 PM November 15, 2017

Jakarta. House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto failed to show up for questioning on Wednesday (15/11) in the high-profile graft case related to the procurement of national electronic identity cards, or e-KTP.

It would have been the first questioning for Setya since he was named a graft suspect again last Friday, in the case that resulted in Rp 2.3 trillion ($170 billion) state losses.

Setya appeared at the legislature's plenary meeting on Wednesday, and cited it as strong grounds for dismissing the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summons.

"This meeting is important, because our main programs have to be carried out," he told reporters.

The questioning session came two days after Setya's lawyer Fredrich Yunadi filed a judicial review with the Constitutional Court against the 2002 Law on the Corruption Eradication Commission.

The articles of the law that Setya seeks to challenge include one that allows the antigraft agency to question a suspect by setting aside procedures stipulated by other laws. Another article allows KPK to request that the immigration office impose a travel ban on a graft suspect.

KPK in October requested an extension to a six-month travel ban on Setya by another six months.

According to Fredrich, the 2014 Law on Legislature requires KPK to obtain the president's permission before questioning a House speaker. The claim has been dismissed by KPK.

Also, since Setya has filed the judicial review, Friedrich said his client will not attend any KPK questioning before a verdict is issued.

KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah, separately, cited the 2003 Law on the Constitutional Court to counter Fredrich's claim. The 2003 law stipulates that a law being reviewed still prevails until the Constitutional Court rules otherwise.

"The review won't stop the ongoing legal process," Febri told reporters. "We assure you that we won't wait for the court's verdict to proceed with our investigation into this case."

Setya is accused of having received Rp 574 billion from the Rp 5.9 trillion procurement project and can face up to 20 years in prison, if convicted.

He was first named a suspect in July, but the South Jakarta District Court acquitted him of graft charges in September, after a pretrial lawsuit.